10 Days to Backpack in Vietnam : An Offbeat Itinerary
In recent years, Vietnam has become a hotspot, especially for Indian tourists and with good reason. If it is your first time in Southeast Asia, there is no way you should miss a trip to Vietnam. From its fascinating temples to charming old towns, the limestone karst islands and rice paddies, a 10-day tour in Vietnam can give you a glimpse of the rich heritage and culture of this country.
Of course, you would need more time to explore a country thoroughly, to explore every corner leisurely and travel slowly; but if you are short on time, I recommend staying in Vietnam for at least 10 days. Here, I have curated a Vietnam Tour for a 10-day Itinerary for you, based on my experience.
First things first:
Visa
As an Indian citizen, you do need a Visa to enter Vietnam. You may apply for an E-Visa, depending on your stay and the processing time takes about 5-6 days. However, I recommend you to have at least 7-10 days as a buffer to be on the safe side.
Pro tip: I would suggest you travel from the South to the North of Vietnam as the northern part has undulating, lush green landscapes and will not let you down when it comes to scenic beauty. The southern part is cultural and has more city life than the north. Therefore, if you are trying to find solace, I would recommend you to move from the south to the north to not feel too underwhelmed.
10-Days Offbeat Vietnam Itinerary
Day 1: Land in Ho Chi Minh City
- Flight tickets to Ho Chi Minh City, otherwise known as Saigon are quite affordable, sometimes ranging as low as a ticket from Delhi to Mumbai. Once you land in Ho Chi Minh, you can get a local SIM card there. I stayed in Ho Chi Minh for just 6 hours and therefore, had chosen to use my Airtel Roaming pack.
- The accommodations in Ho Chi Minh are pretty cheap and you can choose to stay in one of the most Instagrammable streets of Ho Chi Minh City, Bui Vien Street. The hostel we booked was called Lataland Hostel. A quick scroll through Booking.com will get you places according to your budget.
- Take a stroll through Bui Vien Street, especially at night as it comes alive at this time. If you want the day to be spent at leisure, explore the vibrant nightlife at Ho Chi Minh.
- The best thing you can do to commute is to rent a scooter.
Pro Tip: Always carry your ID with you and try to negotiate with them while you are renting.
- The cuisines in Vietnam are quite fascinating. I am a vegetarian but feel free to order seafood if you are open to it.
- The next on our agenda was Cu Chi Tunnel, a 121 km long tunnel used during the Vietnam War and now used as a memorial park. (Note that it closes down by 17:00, local time). Note that if you are claustrophobic, you may want to avoid this.
Other places to visit: The Cha Tam Church, Ben Thanh Market and Museum of War Remnants, Mekong Delta.
Note: The Mekong Delta is formed through a network of tributaries of the Mekong River and gives an insightful glimpse into the agricultural life of Vietnamese people. You can take a day tour from Ho Chi Minh to the Mekong Delta to visit the famous floating markets.
Day 2: Take a flight to Da Nang & go to Hoi An
Click here to get the link to the accommodation I stayed in.
- The first thing to do in Da Nang when you reach is to rent a scooter. Mr Teo is the person we rented our scooter from (+84905721128) if you would want to rent from him too.
- Hoi An is easy to reach from Da Nang and takes approximately an hour, being at a distance of 42 km.
- Since it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to being a well-preserved Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th to 19th century, you will have to walk around the Old Town.
- If you can, try to plan your Hoi An trip on a full moon day to witness the Hoi An Lantern Full Moon Festival, a celebration which honours the ancestors.
- The night market is a sight to behold and you can light a lantern to make a wish. Apart from these, you can take a boat ride, experience the mouth-watering delicacies and even go out for a party.
- You can also get a traditional Vietnamese dress stitched here for an affordable price. Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries in the world to shop from.
Day 3: Sunworld Golden Bridge
- The next day, set out for the Golden Bridge. Crossing the Ba Na Hills will give you a spectacular view as you ride from Da Nang to the Sunworld Golden Bridge. This is the iconic architectural marvel of Vietnam which you can see in almost every poster, wherein a hand holds a bridge.
Note: Make sure that you are travelling there on a clear weather day to get the best view. In my honest opinion, I did not like the Golden Bridge much and found it quite underwhelming. We took a combo package of the Golden Bridge, cable car, a few rides and a lunch buffet.
Day 4: Day trip to Hue & going to Dong Hoi
- Set out for a day trip to Hue, next. This coastal city is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its palaces, tombs and temples. You may take a train to Hue which is approximately a 3-hour ride.
- Explore the city, which depicts the rich Vietnamese culture and history.
- I suggest you do not miss out on the Ho Thuy Tien Water Park, which is abandoned but was built as a tourism project in 2004.
- Later, you can set out for Dong Hoi, after returning to Da Nang, to visit the Phong Nha National Park.
Pro tip: If you reach Dong Hoi by the evening, try out this cosy café called Tree Hugger.
My accommodation here.: Rex Quang Binh
Day 5: Exploring the Phong Nha National Park
- Get ready for the best part of Vietnam, that is, exploring the longest dry cave in the world, known as the Paradise Cave.
- You can either choose to commute there on your own or take a tour which you can book from the city.
- Note: This National Park also has the largest cave in the world – Son Doong Cave, however, you have to book at least 3-4 years in advance.
Day 6: Towards Hanoi
My accommodation recommendation: It is fairly easy to book accommodation through AirBnB in Hanoi. I stayed in a very cute one, the link to which I am attaching here. Another one of my recommendations would be this. I have stayed at both of these places and loved them. The BnBs are affordable and the hosts are very helpful.
Cafes you should try in Hanoi: The Note Café, and Egg Coffee.
Places to see in Hanoi:
Hanoi is charming with its bustling city life in Northern Vietnam and a certain pull to the culture. In 1010, the city was named Thang Long or the Soaring Dragon. Although I did not get the chance to explore Hanoi, here are a few places you can go to if you have some time.
- Ho Chi Minh Museum which is home to the embalmed body of Vietnam’s greatest political leader, Ho Chi Minh
- One Pillar Pagoda, which is a historic Buddhist temple with its speciality being built on one pillar.
- The Old Quarter or the 36 streets which was the residential, manufacturing and commercial hub of Hanoi back in the olden days.
- Ngoc Son Temple, a 19th-century temple set in an island on the Hoan Kiem Lake.
- Temple of Literature, dedicated to the philosopher, Confucious, in Hanoi.
Day 7: Hanoi to Ninh Binh or the Halong Bay on Land
- Quang Phu Cau: On the way to Ninh Binh from Hanoi lies Quang Phu Cau or the Incense Village, renowned for its incense production across the world. The vibrant colours and aroma throughout this village are a paradise for tourists and photographers alike.
- Trek to the Mua Caves, better known as the Vietnamese Great Wall of China. Get an incredible 360-degree view of your surroundings from the peak while delving into a long-standing legacy of Buddhism in Vietnam.
- I recommend visiting early in the morning to avoid crowds.
- Later, take a trip to the more offbeat trail, known as Trang An which is famous for the Cong Island. Take a two-hour long boat ride here to enjoy the panoramic views, pagodas, islands and caves on the way.
Pro tip: Indian food restaurant in Ninh Binh: Aroma.
Day 8: Hanoi to Cao Bang
- Take an overnight bus from Hanoi to Cao Bang.
- Once you check into your accommodation, board another bus to the Ban Gioc waterfall, which is about 3 hours away from Cao Bang.
- I would suggest not miss out on this waterfall for you can be in both Vietnam and China at the same time at this spot. It is quite a unique experience where you can see people from China waving at you.
- In the evening, take a stroll through the streets of Cao Bang. The energy and vibe here are quite different from that of Hanoi and I assure you that you will love it.
Day 9: Me Pja Pass
- If your dose of adventure is not yet satisfied, take a bus to reach Bao Lac, the next day. Getting an accommodation or a scooter rental can be tricky here. Since we planned the tour all by ourselves, it was a bit difficult to navigate this part of the journey. Bookings are difficult to make here and people may not always be helpful.
- Anyway, you can take the offbeat trail to reach a local shop, which is the starting point of the Me Pja Pass, which is the most dangerous pass in North East Vietnam. It has fourteen hairpin bends within a distance of 2.5 km.
- Reach a local shop- the starting point of the best trek: MePja Pass- the most dangerous pass in NE Vietnam- 2.5 km with 14 hairpin bends
Note: Quite frankly, it was not very easy to find accommodation or a vehicle and we met with an accident too. Therefore, my recommendation here would be to do this trek with a guide, where your accommodation, transport and safety will be taken care of.
Things to Pack
- Sunscreen
- Hat/umbrella
- Poncho
- IDP
- Shorts
- Jacket
- Footwear
My Tips and Tricks
- I used the Baolau app/website to book buses and find the best route to commute from one place to another. Google Maps may not always be reliable.
- Talk to the locals, connect with them and get to know hidden offbeat roads or spots to enjoy quitter time and take this country with all the charm it has.
- Install the Grab app, which is the Vietnamese version of Uber
Currency
- The Vietnamese Dong is the official currency of Vietnam.
Best Time to Visit Vietnam
The best time to visit Vietnam depends on your preference and the kind of holiday you want to enjoy. If you are a beach person who just wants to relax by the beach, your best bet would be from November to April. This is also the perfect time to take part in water activities as the water is quite clear.
Spring, too is quite comfortable. The crowd is generally less during this time and you can have many beaches to yourself. You can also cut down a lot on accommodation, during these times.
Summers, which include May to July are not much of a good time to visit Vietnam. Apart from the heat, there are heavy chances of raining heavily in other parts of the country, rendering the water activities not feasible due to very low visibility.
Thus, planning your trip around spring or winter is your best bet.
If you have followed this itinerary, let me know how you like it in the comments. Feel free to leave your suggestions on what can be added.
